George Friedrich Handel was German born in 1685, but died English by Heart in 1759. Handel, though German born, spent most of his life in England and became a naturalized citizen of that country. He was a virtuoso composer of Opera and Oratorio, and was one of the most versatile composers of his time. He began studying music when he was seven years of age; Duke, for whom his brother valeted, recognized him as being great. Handel studied the violin, harpsichord, and organ among many other instruments. Handel produced his first Opera at the age of nineteen. After he had finished law school (because of his father’s wishes) when he turned twenty-one, he traveled to Italy and continued his studies. Handel had a great passion for composing and
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The harpsichord, which we have already met in the Renaissance, came into its own in the Baroque period and is one of the instruments most closely associated with this era in music. Aside from the omnipresent harpsichord, the baroque period also contained several hangovers from the Renaissance period, including recorders, viols, lutes, flutes and a whole range of string instruments that gradually fell out of use (classicfm.com). “With the new emphasis on melody in the Baroque era, the consorts of viols popular in the Renaissance were soon superseded by a new, more soloistic instrument – the violin. The development of the violin family is considered to have begun at the end of the 17th century. Although a baroque violin might look much the same as our modern violins, if you look closely there are many differences. Firstly, the Baroque violin doesn’t have a chin or shoulder rest. The fingerboard is a little shorter on the Baroque violin and is not raised as high as on the modern instrument. The bridge …show more content…
(AGE Fotostock)
“The Messiah” is George Frideric Handel's most renowned Oratorio that continues to be repeated by many orchestras, Churches, and individuals in many different forms and genres. His Messiah was originally an Easter offering but became; and continues to be popular and most beloved of all his Oratorios. It burst onto the stage of Musick Hall in Dublin on April 13, 1742.
Now, of course, Messiah is a fixture of the Christmas season. Woe to the concert hall in the United States or Britain that fails to schedule the piece around the holiday, when, as well, CD sales and Web downloads of the oratorio soar. For many amateur choirs, the work is the heart of their repertoire and the high point of the year. In most of Handel's oratorios, the soloists dominate and the choir sings only brief choruses. But in Messiah, says Laurence Cummings, director of the London Handel Orchestra, "the chorus propels the work forward with great emotional impact and uplifting
The harpsichord, which we have already met in the Renaissance, came into its own in the Baroque period and is one of the instruments most closely associated with this era in music. Aside from the omnipresent harpsichord, the baroque period also contained several hangovers from the Renaissance period, including recorders, viols, lutes, flutes and a whole range of string instruments that gradually fell out of use (classicfm.com). “With the new emphasis on melody in the Baroque era, the consorts of viols popular in the Renaissance were soon superseded by a new, more soloistic instrument – the violin. The development of the violin family is considered to have begun at the end of the 17th century. Although a baroque violin might look much the same as our modern violins, if you look closely there are many differences. Firstly, the Baroque violin doesn’t have a chin or shoulder rest. The fingerboard is a little shorter on the Baroque violin and is not raised as high as on the modern instrument. The bridge …show more content…
(AGE Fotostock)
“The Messiah” is George Frideric Handel's most renowned Oratorio that continues to be repeated by many orchestras, Churches, and individuals in many different forms and genres. His Messiah was originally an Easter offering but became; and continues to be popular and most beloved of all his Oratorios. It burst onto the stage of Musick Hall in Dublin on April 13, 1742.
Now, of course, Messiah is a fixture of the Christmas season. Woe to the concert hall in the United States or Britain that fails to schedule the piece around the holiday, when, as well, CD sales and Web downloads of the oratorio soar. For many amateur choirs, the work is the heart of their repertoire and the high point of the year. In most of Handel's oratorios, the soloists dominate and the choir sings only brief choruses. But in Messiah, says Laurence Cummings, director of the London Handel Orchestra, "the chorus propels the work forward with great emotional impact and uplifting